Chord Huei Phono Preamp Review

[DubbyMcDubs]

Perhaps you can ditch it on an auction site before word gets around and quietly procure a Cambridge Audio Duo. I'm amazed at the Duo's measured performance for such a reasonable price. Better the Cambridge than the Rega Fono MM MK3 to match the P6. ...

I tried the Cambridge but there was something I didnt like about it. I dont mind this Chord phono honestly. Since modifying my P6 and using the grounding plate, it has gone from audible hiss to virtually no noise other than what is expected of MC.

 

[TheGhostOfEugeneDebs]

I still would love to get my hands on one of their higher end DACs, but the orb thing turned me off of this particular product. Got a Pathos In The Groove instead when cross shopping. No idea if it measures well or better even, but dials are better than orbs, at least.

 

[Kegemusha]

The used market will be flooded with these bad boyZ now after this review.

jeje, I would not buy one even 2nd hand now.

 

[deniall83]

This is incredible. Being a vinyl geek, I had my eye on this product. I'm shocked at how bad it is but relieved that I didn't buy one. Thanks for the detailed review.

 

[NTomokawa]

Me, sees headless panther: Uh-oh...
Me, reading the actual review: Yep, about as expected.

My only wish is that, now with ASR ripping equipment apart on the test bench, manufacturers would properly design and engineer any future products.

 

[NTomokawa]

Pics of the LED color coding stuff.

This thing must be designed for people on LSD, by people on LSD.

 

[Doodski]

Me, sees headless panther: Uh-oh...
Me, reading the actual review: Yep, about as expected.

My only wish is that, now with ASR ripping equipment apart on the test bench, manufacturers would properly design and engineer any future products.

The world is shrinking everyday and "stuff" is more and more difficult to get away with.

 

[NTomokawa]

The world is shrinking everyday and "stuff" is more and more difficult to get away with.

I hope so! And I think we need a few more ASRs (or objective and hard science-based reviewers) to really attack snake oil from all sides.

 

[TCD333]

He used a-weighting filtering which gets rid of the low frequency noise:

View attachment 92149

Amirm, WRT your distortion & noise measurements, what is the impedance of drive signal used (both CM and Diff)? This will have a significant impact on results, obviously depending on IP topology.
TCD

 

[deniall83]

I tried the Cambridge but there was something I didnt like about it. I dont mind this Chord phono honestly. Since modifying my P6 and using the grounding plate, it has gone from audible hiss to virtually no noise other than what is expected of MC.

May I ask your thoughts on the P6? I'm considering one of those as I can get a good deal but not sure if I should just get a Technics instead.

 

[DubbyMcDubs]

May I ask your thoughts on the P6? I'm considering one of those as I can get a good deal but not sure if I should just get a Technics instead.

If I was doing this all again, I would get one of the new Technics. Much nicer unit and I think it sounds better with a decent cartridge. I had to modify the grounding on my P6 to get rid of noise, including running a ground wire to the power supply/controller box.

 

[deniall83]

If I was doing this all again, I would get one of the new Technics. Much nicer unit and I think it sounds better with a decent cartridge. I had to modify the grounding on my P6 to get rid of noise, including running a ground wire to the power supply/controller box.

Appreciate the reply. I’ll probably stick with the Technics then.

 

[amirm]

Amirm, WRT your distortion & noise measurements, what is the impedance of drive signal used (both CM and Diff)? This will have a significant impact on results, obviously depending on IP topology.
TCD

20 and 40 ohm respectively from what I recall.

 

[win]

I for one think it looks incredibly cool. Yes, the color coding is not for everyone. True. But they went out on a limb with their design language, and IMO that takes a lot of guts. People choose with their eyes, not with their ears.

Also, their other products are extremely well measuring (albeit expensive), and they have the technical expertise to create their own FPGA designs that compete with industry titans like AKM and ESS. So it's not like they shouldn't be able to put together a functional product. Maybe this is just defective? I look forward to Chord responding!

 

[tomchr]

I feel sorry for those who are colour blind deficient and are trying to use that UI. Just saying...

Tom

 

[amirm]

People choose with their eyes, not with their ears.

They do and I would run, run very fast away from such a design. It lacks elegance and looks like children toys.

 

[threni]

When I saw the SINAD chart I wondered if they'd sent you one of their new range of guitar distortion pedals by mistake.

 

[The Messiah]

Wonder how it sounds................

 

[Thomas savage]

Wonder how it sounds................

...Like a bum chord ......

 

[The Messiah]

...Like a bum chord ......

Thanks. glad at least someone had the decency to listen to it to confirm this.